Multi-display panel display device and multi-directional driving method of the same

ABSTRACT

A display device and a driving method of the same are proposed, the display device including first and second display panels displaying one image in a division manner; first and second data drivers supplying data voltages to the first and second display panels, respectively; first and second scan drivers supplying scan signals to the first and second display panels, respectively; and first and second timing controllers controlling the first and second data drivers and the first and second scan drivers, respectively, wherein the first data driver latches a first data signal output from the first timing controller in a first direction and converts the first data signal to a first data voltage to be outputted, and the second data driver latches a second data signal output from the second timing controller in a second direction and converts the second data signal to a second data voltage to be outputted.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Republic of Korea PatentApplication No. 10-2019-0163658 filed on Dec. 10, 2019, each of which isincorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure generally relates to a display device and adriving method of the same.

Description of the Background

With the development of information technology, the market for a displaydevice that is a connection medium between a user and information isgrowing. Accordingly, the use of display devices such as an organiclight emitting display (OLED), a quantum dot display (QDD), a liquidcrystal display (LCD), and a plasma display panel (PDP) is increasing.

Some of the display devices described above, for example, a liquidcrystal display device or an organic light emitting display device,include a display panel including a plurality of sub-pixels arranged inthe form of a matrix, a driver outputting a driving signal to drive thedisplay panel, and a power supply unit generating power to be suppliedto the display panel or the driver. The driver includes a scan driversupplying a scan signal (or gate signal) to the display panel, a datadriver supplying a data signal to the display panel, and the like.

In the display devices as described above, when a driving signal, suchas a scan signal and a data signal, is supplied to sub-pixels formed onthe display panel, the selected sub-pixel transmits light or emits lightdirectly, thereby displaying an image.

SUMMARY

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are to reduce theoccurrence of an image step between the upper image and the lower image,thereby improving the display quality, when implementing a video wall(or multi-vision) display device that divides a single image into aplurality of images and then displays the resulting on a plurality ofdisplay panels.

A display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosureincludes first and second display panels displaying one image in adivision manner; first and second data drivers supplying data voltagesto the first and second display panels, respectively; first and secondscan drivers supplying scan signals to the first and second displaypanels, respectively; and first and second timing controllerscontrolling the first and second data drivers and the first and secondscan drivers, respectively, wherein the first data driver latches afirst data signal output from the first timing controller in a firstdirection and then converts the first data signal to a first datavoltage to be outputted, and the second data driver latches a seconddata signal output from the second timing controller in a seconddirection opposite to the first direction and then converts the seconddata signal to a second data voltage to be outputted.

The first scan driver may output the scan signal in a forward direction,and the second scan driver may output the scan signal in a reversedirection.

The first and second scan drivers may have scan directions depending onlogic states of first and second scan direction change signals suppliedfrom the outside.

The first and second scan drivers may include first and second scandirection control lines to which the first and second scan directionchange signals are applied, respectively, in which the first and secondscan direction control lines may be formed with two lines that arespaced from each other and then interconnected to each other at oneside, thereby having a U-shape.

The first and second data drivers may have latch directions of datasignals depending on the first and second latch direction change signalssupplied from the first and second timing controllers.

A first image and a second image displayed on an interface between thefirst display panel and the second display panel may be completelydisplayed for a same frame.

The first display panel and the second display panel may be disposedvertically adjacent to each other.

A display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosureincludes at least two display panels displaying one image in a divisionmanner; at least two timing controllers outputting a first data signaland a second data signal for displaying the one image in a divisionmanner on each of the at least two display panels; at least two datadrivers converting the first data signal and the second data signaloutput from the at least two timing controllers into a first datavoltage and a second data voltage to be output to each of the at leasttwo display panels; and at least two scan drivers applying a first scansignal and a second scan signal so that the first data voltage and thesecond data voltage are separately applied to each of the at least twodisplay panels, wherein a first scan driver outputs the first scansignal in a forward direction, and the second scan driver outputs thesecond scan signal in a reverse direction, in the at least two scandrivers, and a first data driver latches the first data signal in afirst direction and outputs the latched data signal, and a second datadriver latches the second data signal in a second direction opposite tothe first direction and outputs the latched data signal, in the at leasttwo data drivers.

A first image and a second image displayed on an interface between theat least two display panels may be completely displayed for a sameframe.

The at least two scan drivers may have scan directions depending onlogic states of first and second scan direction change signals outputfrom at least two power supply units.

A separate signal line for changing a latch direction of the data signalmay be disposed between the at least two data drivers and the at leasttwo timing controllers.

A driving method of a display device according to an embodiment, themethod including outputting a first data signal and a second data signalto display one image in a division manner on each of at least twodisplay panels; converting the first data signal and the second datasignal into a first data voltage and a second data voltage and thusoutputting the first data voltage and the second data voltage to the atleast two display panels, respectively; and outputting a scan signal toeach of the at least two display panels so that the first data voltageand the second data voltage are separately applied to each of the atleast two display panels, wherein the outputting of the first datavoltage and the second data voltage is provided so that the first datasignal is latched in a first direction and then converted into the firstdata voltage to be output to the first display panel, and the seconddata signal is latched in a second direction opposite to the firstdirection and then converted to the second data voltage to be output tothe second display panel.

The outputting of the scan signal may be provided so that the scansignal includes a forward scan signal and a reverse scan signal, inwhich the forward scan signal is applied to the first display panel, andthe reverse scan signal is applied to the second display panel.

A first image and a second image to be displayed on an interface betweenthe at least two display panels may be completely displayed for a sameframe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure andtogether with the description serve to explain the principles of theinvention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a liquid crystaldisplay according to one embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram schematically illustrating a sub-pixel shownin FIG. 1 according to one embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an organic lightemitting display device according to one embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram schematically illustrating a sub-pixelshown in FIG. 3 according to one embodiment;

FIG. 5 is an exemplary view illustrating a first configuration of adevice associated with a gate-in-panel type scan driver according to oneembodiment;

FIG. 6 is an exemplary view illustrating a second configuration of adevice associated with a gate-in-panel type scan driver according to oneembodiment;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are views illustrating arrangement examples of agate-in-panel type scan driver according to one embodiment.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are exemplary views illustrating a video wall displaydevice using the display device described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7according to one embodiment;

FIG. 9 including part (a) and part (b) are views illustratingconsiderations when implementing a video wall display device accordingto one embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating a concept of a video wall display deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a main part of a display deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 12 is a plan view illustrating a display module provided on thebasis of a device shown in FIG. 11 according to one embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a view illustrating that output directions of scan signalsfor two display panels are different according to one embodiment;

FIG. 14 is an exemplary view illustrating a configuration and a methodfor changing an output direction of a scan signal according to oneembodiment;

FIGS. 15A and 15B are exemplary views illustrating a configuration and amethod for changing an output direction of a scan signal according toone embodiment.

FIGS. 16 and 17 are views illustrating latch directions of data voltagesfor two display panels are different according to one embodiment.

FIGS. 18A and 18B are views illustrating an example of implementation ofa video wall display device using an image control method according toan embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 19A and 19B are views illustrating an implementation of a videowall display device without using an image control method according toan embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 20 and 21 are views illustrating an image control method accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 22 and 23 are views illustrating a wiring layout for implementingan image control method according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present disclosure will bedescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings.

With the development of information technology, the market for a displaydevice that is a connection medium between a user and information isgrowing. Accordingly, the use of display devices such as an organiclight emitting display (OLED), a quantum dot display (QDD), a liquidcrystal display (LCD), and a plasma display panel (PDP) is increasing.

Some of the display devices described above, for example, a liquidcrystal display device or an organic light emitting display device,include a display panel including a plurality of sub-pixels arranged inthe form of a matrix, a driver outputting a driving signal to drive thedisplay panel, and a power supply unit generating power to be suppliedto the display panel or the driver. The driver includes a scan driversupplying a scan signal (or gate signal) to the display panel, a datadriver supplying a data signal to the display panel, and the like.

When the display device as described above is supplied with a drivingsignal such as a scan signal and a data signal to sub-pixels formed onthe display panel, the selected sub-pixel transmits light or emits lightdirectly, thereby displaying an image. Hereinafter, the description ofthe present d will be continued with respect to the liquid crystaldisplay device and the organic light emitting display device. Meanwhile,the present disclosure described below is also applicable to a displaydevice that is based on an inorganic light emitting diode rather than anorganic light emitting diode.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a liquid crystaldisplay; and FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram schematically illustrating asub-pixel shown in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the liquid crystal display device includes animage supplier 110, a timing controller 120, a scan driver 130, a datadriver 140, a display panel 150, and a backlight unit 170, a powersupply unit 180, and the like.

The image supplier 110 outputs various driving signals together withimage data signals supplied from the outside or image data signalsstored in an internal memory. The image supplier 110 supplies datasignals and various driving signals to the timing controller 120.

The timing controller 120 outputs a gate timing control signal GDC forcontrolling operation timing of the scan driver 130, a data timingcontrol signal DDC for controlling operation timing of the data driver140, various sync signals (vertical sync signal Vsyn and horizontal syncsignal Hsync), and the like. The timing controller 120 supplies the datasignal DATA supplied from the image processing unit 110 to the datadriver 140, together with the data timing control signal DDC.

The scan driver 130 outputs a scan signal (or gate signal) in responseto a gate timing control signal GDC supplied from the timing controller120. The scan driver 130 supplies the scan signal to sub-pixels includedin the display panel 150 through gate lines GL1 to GLm. The scan driver130 is formed in the form of an integrated circuit (IC) or is formeddirectly on the display panel 150 by a gate in panel method.

The data driver 140 samples and latches the data signal DATA in responseto the data timing control signal DDC supplied from the timingcontroller 120, and converts the data signal into a data voltage in theform of an analog signal corresponding to the gamma reference voltage tobe output. The data driver 140 supplies the data voltage to sub-pixelsincluded in the display panel 150 through data lines DL1 to DLn. Thedata driver 140 may be mounted on the display panel 150 or mounted on aprinted circuit board in the form of an integrated circuit (IC), but isnot limited thereto.

The power supply unit 180 generates and outputs a common voltage VCOM onthe basis of an external input voltage supplied from the outside. Thepower supply unit 180 generates and outputs a voltage (e.g., scan highvoltage, scan low voltage) required for driving the scan driver 130, avoltage (e.g., drain voltage, half drain voltage) required for drivingthe data driver 140, or the like, in addition to a common voltage VCOM.

The display panel 150 displays an image in response to the scan signalsupplied from the scan driver 130, the data voltage supplied from thedata driver 140, and the common voltage VCOM supplied from the powersupply unit 180. The sub-pixels of the display panel 150 control lightprovided through the backlight unit 170.

For example, one sub-pixel SP includes a switching transistor SW, astorage capacitor Cst, and a liquid crystal layer Clc. The switchingtransistor SW has a gate electrode connected to a scan line GL1 and asource electrode connected to a data line DLL The storage capacitor Csthas one end connected to a drain electrode of the switching transistorSW and the other end connected to a common voltage line Vcom. The liquidcrystal layer Clc is formed between a pixel electrode 1 connected to thedrain electrode of the switching transistor SW and a common electrode 2connected to the common voltage line Vcom.

The display panel 150 is implemented in a twisted nematic (TN) mode, avertical alignment (VA) mode, an in-plane switching (IPS) mode, a fringefield switching (FFS) mode, an electrically controlled birefringence(ECB) mode, or the like, according to the structure of the pixelelectrode 1 and the common electrode 2.

The backlight unit 170 provides light to the display panel 150 using alight source that emits light. The backlight unit 170 may include alight emitting diode (hereinafter, referred to as LED), an LED drivingunit driving the LED, an LED substrate on which LED is mounted, a lightguide plate converting light emitted from the LED into a surface lightsource, a reflector reflecting light from the bottom of the light guideplate, an optical sheet collecting and diffusing light emitted from thelight guide plate, and the like, but is not limited thereto.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an organic lightemitting display device; and FIG. 4 is a configuration diagramschematically illustrating a sub-pixel shown in FIG. 3.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, an organic light emitting display deviceincludes an image supplier 110, a timing controller 120, a scan driver130, a data driver 140, a display panel 150, and a power supply unit170, and the like.

Since the image supplier 110, the timing controller 120, the scan driver130, and the data driver 140 included in the organic light emittingdisplay device are similar in basic configuration and operation to thoseof the liquid crystal display of FIG. 1, detailed description thereofwill be omitted. Instead, the power supply unit 180 and the displaypanel 150 that are distinct from those of the liquid crystal displaydevice will be described in more detail.

The power supply unit 180 generates and outputs a first driving voltageEVDD of high potential and a second driving voltage EVSS of lowpotential on the basis of an external input voltage supplied from theoutside. The power supply unit 180 generates and outputs the firstdriving voltage EVDD and the second driving voltages EVSS, as well as avoltage (e.g., scan high voltage, scan low voltage) required for drivingthe scan driver 130, a voltage (e.g., drain voltage, half drain voltage)required for driving the data driver 140, or the like.

The display panel 150 displays an image in response to a driving signalincluding a scan signal and a data voltage output from a driverincluding the scan driver 130 and the data driver 140, and the firstdriving voltage EVDD and the second driving voltage EVSS output from thepower supply unit 180. The sub-pixels of the display panel 150 directlyemit light.

For example, one sub-pixel SP includes a switching transistor SW, and apixel circuit PC including a driving transistor, a storage capacitor,and an organic light emitting diode. Since the sub-pixel SP used in theorganic light emitting display device emits light directly, the circuitconfiguration is complicated compared to that of the liquid crystaldisplay device. In addition, a compensation circuit compensating fordegradation in the organic light emitting diode that emits light and thedriving transistors that supplies driving current to the organic lightemitting diode, are complex and varied. Therefore, it is noted that thepixel circuit PC included in the sub-pixel SP is shown in the form of ablock.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary view illustrating a first configuration of adevice associated with a gate-in-panel type scan driver; FIG. 6 is anexemplary view illustrating a second configuration of a deviceassociated with a gate-in-panel type scan driver; and FIGS. 7A and 7Bare views illustrating an arrangement example of a gate-in-panel typescan driver.

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the gate-in-panel type scan drivers 131 and135 may include a shift register circuit 131 (a scan signal generator)and a level shifter 135 (a clock signal and voltage generator).

The level shifter 135 generates and outputs a plurality of clock signalsGclk and a start signal Gvst on the basis of signals output from thetiming controller 120. The plurality of clock signals Gclk may begenerated and output in the form of K phases (K is an integer of 2 ormore) having different phases, such as 2 phases, 4 phases, and 8 phases.The plurality of clock signals Gclk and the start signal Gvst are outputthrough signal pads of the level shifter 135 and transmitted to theshift register circuit 131 through signal lines connected to the signalpads.

The shift register circuit 131 operates on the basis of signals Gclk andGvst output from the level shifter 135, and outputs scan signals Scan[1]to Scan[m] capable of turning on or off the transistor formed on thedisplay panel. The shift register circuit 131 is formed in the form of athin film on the display panel by a gate-in-panel method. Therefore, aportion formed on the display panel in the scan driver 130 is a shiftregister circuit 131.

The shift register circuit 131 is disposed in a non-display area NA ofthe display panel 150. The shift register circuit 131 may be disposed ona left (or right) side of the non-display area NA of the display panel150 as shown in FIG. 7A. In addition, the shift register circuit 131 maybe disposed in both left and right sides of the non-display areas NA ofthe display panel 150, as shown in FIG. 7B. However, configurations andarrangements related to the scan drivers 131 and 135 are not limitedthereto.

Unlike the shift register circuit 131, the level shifter 135 is formedin the form of an IC. The level shifter 135 may be configured in theform of a separate IC as shown in FIG. 5, or may be included in thepower supply unit 180 or other device as shown in FIG. 6.

As such, the shift register circuit 131 outputs the scan signals Scan[1]to Scan[m] on the basis of the plurality of clock signals Gclk and thestart signal Gvst output from the level shifter 135.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are exemplary views illustrating a video wall displaydevice using the display device described with reference to FIGS. 1 to7.

The video wall (or multi-vision) display device is used for the purposeof providing a variety of video information in places (indoor/outdoor)that may be used by a large number of specific/unspecified public, suchas markets, theaters, art galleries, bookstores, businesses, schools,government offices, hospitals, etc.

The video wall display device may be implemented on the basis of thedisplay devices described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7. Sincethe video wall display device generally has a large screen, it may haveat least two display panels. For example, the video wall display devicemay be implement in such a manner that the two display panels 150 a and150 b are arranged vertically as shown in FIG. 8A, or another twodisplay panels 150 c and 150 d are further arranged in addition to thetwo display panels 150 a and 150 b described above, as shown in FIG. 8B.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating considerations when implementing a videowall display device; and FIG. 10 is a view illustrating a concept of avideo wall display device according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

The number of images to be implemented on one screen of a video walldisplay device may be one or multiple. However, when one image IMG isdisplayed on one screen of the video wall as shown in FIG. 9, since oneimage IMG is divided into multiple sub-images to be displayed on aplurality of display panels, care should be taken so that an image stepdoes not occur.

The image step appears on an interface between two adjacent displaypanels 150 a and 150 b, when a first image IMGa, which is a part of theinput image IMG, is displayed on the first display panel 150 a, and asecond image IMGb, which is the remaining part of the input image IMG,is displayed on the second display panel 150 b,

The image step, such as “PP 1” in part (a) of FIG. 9, is most prominentat a point where an upper image and a lower image meet, which may beexplained by a mismatch phenomenon of the upper and lower images.Therefore, when one input image IMG is to be displayed on one screen ofthe video wall, it is necessary to consider a method capable ofresolving an image mismatch phenomenon seen at the point where the upperand lower images meet as shown in “PP1” of part (b) of FIG. 9.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the first image IMGa (e.g., upper image) of the input imageIMG is left as it is, and the second image IMGb (e.g., lower image)undergoes intermediate processing, in order to eliminate the image step.During the intermediate processing, the second image IMGb may beinverted diagonally (or 180 degree rotation/invert screen/z-inversionscreen). The intermediate processing process may be performed by theimage supplier or the timing controller. The intermediate processingprocess may be performed in an upside-down or left-right reverse(rotation) manner with respect to the first image IMGa or the secondimage IMGb, but is not limited thereto.

In addition, when displaying the first image IMGa and the second imageIMGb on the two display panels 150 a and 150 b, scan directions for thetwo display panels 150 a and 150 b may be different. When scanning, thescan direction may be selected so that the first image IMGa is displayedin order from top to bottom with respect to the first display panel 150a, and the scan direction may be selected so that the second image IMGbis displayed in order from bottom to top with respect to the seconddisplay panel 150 b. The scan direction may be determined by a signaloutput from the power supply unit or the level shifter, but is notlimited thereto.

Hereinafter, an apparatus and method capable of minimizing theoccurrence of an image step caused due to two display panels 150 a and150 b will be described according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a main part of a display deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and FIG. 12 is aplan view illustrating a display module provided on the basis of adevice shown in FIG. 11.

As shown in FIG. 11, the display device according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure may include a timing controller 120 changing adata output method of a data driver 140 in response to a reverse signaland a power supply unit 180 (or level shifter) changing the scandirection of a scan driver 130. The reverse signal may be input from theoutside, and may be output by an image supplier 110 (or a system or aset).

The timing controller 120 may output a first latch direction changesignal LBR or a second latch direction change signal RBL in response tothe reverse signal. The data driver 140 may change a latch direction ofa data voltage output from itself in response to the first or secondlatch direction change signal LBR or RBL from the timing controller 120.

The power supply unit 180 may output a first scan direction changesignal VGH_F or a second scan direction change signal VGH_R in responseto the reverse signal. When the first or second scan direction changesignal VGH_F or VGH_R is output from the power supply unit 180, the scandriver 130 may change an output direction of a scan signal output fromitself.

Meanwhile, in the above description, it has been described as an examplethat the first or second scan direction change signal VGH_F or VGH_R isoutput from the power supply unit 180. However, when the scan driver 130is composed of a level shifter and a shift register circuit, the firstor second scan direction change signal VGH_F or VGH_R may be output fromthe level shifter.

As illustrated in FIG. 12, the device illustrated in FIG. 11 may beimplemented in the form of a display module through an assembly process.One display module may largely include a display panel 150, a flexiblecircuit board FPCB, a printed circuit board S-PCB, and a control boardC-PCB, which will be described in more detail below.

The display panel 150 may have a shift register circuit 131 that outputsthe scan signal. The data driver 140 may be mounted on a flexiblecircuit board FPCB. A plurality of flexible circuit boards FPCB may beprovided so that each has the data driver 140 and is provided betweenthe printed circuit board S-PCB and the display panel 150. The printedcircuit board S-PCB and the display panel 150 may be electricallyconnected to each other by the plurality of flexible circuit boardsFPCB.

The timing controller 120 and the power supply unit 180 may be mountedon the control board C-PCB. The control board C-PCB and the printedcircuit board S-PCB may be electrically connected to each other by aflexible cable CAB provided between them. However, the display moduledescribed above is only an example, and the present disclosure is notlimited thereto.

Hereinafter, a configuration and a method for changing the outputdirection of the scan signal will be described.

FIG. 13 is a view illustrating that output directions of scan signalsfor two display panels are different, and FIGS. 14, 15A, and 15B areexemplary views illustrating a configuration and a method for changingthe output direction of a scan signal.

As shown in FIG. 13, the first display module having the first displaypanel 150 a may have the scan direction (forward scan) determined sothat the scan signal is output by at least one line in order from top tobottom, and the second display module having the second display panel150 b have the scan direction (reverse scan) determined so that the scansignal is output by at least one line in order from bottom to top.

For example, the first display module may output the scan signal in theforward direction, when receiving the first scan direction change signalVGH_F of logic high and the second scan direction change signal VGH_R oflogic low from the power supply unit 180 for driving the first displaymodule. In addition, the second display module may output the scansignal in the reverse direction, when receiving the first scan directionchange signal VGH_F of logic low and the second scan direction changesignal VGH_R of logic high from the power supply unit 180 for drivingthe second display module.

Meanwhile, since the display module includes the power supply unit 180for driving itself, VGH_F=High and VGH_R=Low are output from the powersupply to drive the first display panel 150 a, and VGH_F=Low andVGH_R=High is output from the power supply unit to drive the seconddisplay panel 150 b.

However, it is noted that only one power supply unit 180 is shown inFIG. 13, in order to emphasize that the scan direction of each of thetwo display modules may be differently determined in response to logicstates of the first and second scan direction change signals VGH_F orVGH_R output from the power supply unit 180.

As shown in FIG. 14, the first and second display modules including thefirst display panel 150 a and the second display panel 150 b may includea first scan direction control line VGH_FL and a second scan directioncontrol line VGH_RL connected to a signal input terminal (for example, aterminal to which a voltage or signal for determining a scan directionis input) of the shift register circuit 131, respectively.

The first scan direction control line VGH_FL and the second scandirection control line VGH_RL may be disposed adjacent to the shiftregister circuit 131 along the length of the shift register circuit 131.In addition, the first scan direction control line VGH_FL and the secondscan direction control line VGH_RL are formed with two lines that arespaced from each other and then interconnected to each other at one side(lower side), thereby having a U-shape.

The shift register circuit 131 included in the first and second displaymodules may perform a forward scan or a reverse scan according to logicstates of the first scan direction change signal VGH_F and the secondscan direction change signal VGH_R applied through the first scandirection control line VGH_FL and the second scan direction control lineVGH_RL. That is, the output direction of the scan signal may be selectedfrom both directions (bi-scans).

As shown in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15A, when the first scan direction changesignal VGH_F of logic high is applied through the first scan directioncontrol line VGH_FL, the shift register circuit 131 may output a firstscan signal (1), a second scan signal (2), a third scan signal (3), afourth scan signal (4), and the like in a forward direction from thetop. Herein, a logic state of the second scan direction change signalVGH_R applied through the second scan direction control line VGH_RL islogic Low.

As shown in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15B, when the second scan direction changesignal VGH_R of the logic Low is applied through the second scandirection control line VGH_RL, the shift register circuit 131 may outputa first scan signal (1), a second scan signal (2), a third scan signal(3), a fourth scan signal (4), and the like in a reverse direction frombottom. Herein, a logic state of the first scan direction change signalVGH_F applied through the first scan direction control line VGH_FL islogic High.

According to the above embodiment, the present disclosure arranges thescan direction control lines VGH_FL and VGH_RL in an area where theshift register circuit 131 is located in order to change the outputdirection of the scan signal. Then, the logic states of the scandirection change signals VGH_F and VGH_R applied through the scandirection control lines VGH_FL and VGH_RL are changed. However, this isonly an example, and the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

Hereinafter, a configuration and method of changing the latch directionof the data voltage will be described.

FIGS. 16 and 17 are views illustrating latch directions of data voltagesfor two display panels are different.

As shown in FIGS. 11, 16, and 17, in the first and second displaymodules including the first display panel 150 a and the second displaypanel 150 b, the latch direction of the data voltage may be changed bythe first or second latch direction change signal LBR or RBL output fromthe first and second timing controllers 120 a and 120 b (latch directionchange for left and right reversal of the data signal).

The latch direction of the data voltage may be determined according toan output direction of the scan signal, positions of the display panels150 a and 150 b included in the display module (up, down, left, andright relations), and a type of image to be displayed by the displaymodule. Since only a case in which only two display panels 150 a and 150b included in the first and second display modules are located at theupper portion and the lower portion is described according to thepresent disclosure, two cases including displaying the upper image anddisplaying the lower image will be described below.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 16, since the first display panel 150 adisplays the upper image, the scan direction of the scan signal may bedetermined as the forward direction. That is, the shift register circuit131 b of the first scan driver driving the first display panel 150 a mayoutput the scan signal in a forward direction by a scan direction changesignal output from the first power supply unit 180 a. In addition, thefirst data driver 140 a latches the data signal in the order from leftto right (first direction) in response to the first latch directionchange signal LBR output from the first timing controller 120 a, andthen transmits the data signal into a data voltage to be output.

As a result, the first display panel 150 a may display the upper imageon the basis of the scan signal applied in the forward direction and thedata voltage that is latched in the order from left to right and thenoutput. That is, the first display module including the first displaypanel 150 a is driven according to a first driving method, which is ageneral driving method, to display the upper image.

According to the foregoing, the first data driver 140 a may latch thedata signal in the order from left to right (forward latch) to beoutput, in response to the first latch direction change signal LBR. Morespecifically, when the first latch direction change signal LBR is input,the first data driver 140 a latches the data signal output from thefirst timing controller 120 a in a forward order from left to right fromthe first output channel to the Nth output channel (last channel), andthen converts the data signal into a data voltage to be simultaneouslyoutput through all channels.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 17, since the second display panel 150 bdisplays the upper image, the scan direction of the scan signal may bedetermined as the reverse direction. That is, the shift register circuit131 b of the second scan driver driving the second display panel 150 bmay output the scan signal in the reverse direction by the scandirection change signal output from the second power supply unit 180 b.In addition, the second data driver 140 b may latch the data signal inthe order from right to left (second direction opposite to the firstdirection) in response to a second latch direction change signal RBLoutput from the second timing controller 120 b, and convert the datasignal into a data voltage to be output.

As a result, the second display panel 150 b may display the lower imageon the basis of the scan signal applied in the reverse direction and thedata voltage that is latched in the order from right to left and thenoutput. That is, the second display module including the second displaypanel 150 b is driven in a second driving method, which is differentfrom a general driving method, to display the lower image.

According to the above description, the second data driver 140 b maylatch the data signal in the order from the right to the left (reverselatch) to be output, in response to the second latch direction changesignal RBL. More specifically, when the second latch direction changesignal RBL is input, the second data driver 140 b latches the datasignal output from the second timing controller 120 b in a reverse orderfrom right to left from the Nth output channel (last channel) to thefirst output channel and then converts the data signal into a datavoltage to be simultaneously output through all channels.

Referring to FIGS. 16 and 17, the upper image may be displayed on thefirst display panel as it is by the first driving method, whereas thelower image may be re-inverted diagonally by the second driving method(or the image that has undergone 180 degree rotation is restored to theoriginal image) and displayed on the second display panel.

FIGS. 18A and 18B are views illustrating an example of implementation ofa video wall display device using an image control method according toan embodiment of the present disclosure; and FIG. 19 is a viewillustrating an implementation of a video wall display device withoutusing an image control method according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 18A according to the image control method(Z-inversion screen control) of the embodiment, the first display panel150 a is scanned in the forward direction and the data signalcorresponding to the upper image IMGa are latched in the forward orderand then is converted to a data voltage to be applied to the firstdisplay panel 150 a. At the same time, the second display panel 150 b isscanned in the reverse direction, and the data signal corresponding tothe upper image IMGb is latched in a reverse order and then is convertedto a data voltage to be applied to the second display panel 150 b.

Herein, both the upper image IMGa and the lower image IMGb displayed onan interface between the first display panel 150 a and the seconddisplay panel 150 b are displayed for the same timing, for example, Nframe.

Therefore, when the image control method according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure is used, both the upper image IMGa and the lowerimage IMGb displayed on the interface of the first display panel 150 aand the second display panel 150 b are displayed during the same timing.As a result, the video wall display device including the two displaypanels 150 a and 150 b may block an image step that may be caused to beadjacent to the interface (refer to a PP2 in FIG. 18B). In addition,even when the image step occurs, the effect thereof can be minimized.

As shown in FIGS. 11, 19A, when the image control method of theembodiment is not followed, the first display panel 150 a and the seconddisplay panel 150 b are scanned in the forward direction, and the datasignals corresponding to the upper image IMGa and the lower image IMGbare latched in the forward order and then converted to data voltages tobe applied to the first display panel 150 a and the second display panel150 b, respectively.

Herein, the upper image IMGa and the lower image IMGb respectivelydisplayed on the interface between the first display panel 150 a and thesecond display panel 150 b is displayed for different timings, forexample, N frame in the case of the lower image and N+1 frame in thecase of the upper image.

Therefore, when the image control method according to the embodiment ofthe present disclosure is not used, the upper image IMGa and the lowerimage IMGb displayed on the interface between the first display panel150 a and the second display panel 150 b are displayed for differenttimings. As a result, the video wall display device including the twodisplay panels 150 a and 150 b cannot block an image step that may becaused to be adjacent to the interface (refer to a part PP1 in FIG.19B).

FIGS. 20 and 21 are views illustrating an image control method accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 20, in order to eliminate the image step, the scandirection and the latch direction of the upper image IMGa to bedisplayed on the first display panel 150 a are not changed (using thefirst driving method), but the scan direction and the latch direction ofthe lower image IMGb to be displayed on the second display panel 150 bare changed (using the second driving method).

However, referring to FIG. 21, the image control method according to anembodiment of the present disclosure, in order to solve the image step,the scan direction and latch direction of the upper image IMGa to bedisplayed on the first display panel 150 a is changed (using the seconddriving method), and the scan direction and the latch direction of thelower image IMGb to be displayed on the second display panel 150 b maynot be changed (using the first driving method).

As can be seen from FIGS. 20 and 21, even when using either of the twomethods, since both images displayed on the interface between the upperimage IMGa to be displayed on the first display panel 150 a and thelower image IMGb to be displayed on the second display panel 150 b arecompletely displayed for the same frame (N−1 frame in FIG. 20, N framein FIG. 21), thereby preventing from causing the image step. Morespecifically, the upper image IMGa to be displayed on the first displaypanel 150 a and the lower image IMGb to be displayed on the seconddisplay panel 150 b have the same start time point or end time point ofthe frame.

FIGS. 22 and 23 are views illustrating a wiring layout for implementingan image control method according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 22, the timing controller 120 may apply thefirst latch direction change signal LBR or the second latch directionchange signal RBL to the data driver 140. To this end, the timingcontroller 120 may include an option terminal OPT for outputting thefirst latch direction change signal LBR or the second latch directionchange signal RBL. In addition, the data driver 140 may include a latchdirection change signal terminal LBR/RBL capable of receiving the firstlatch direction change signal LBR or the second latch direction changesignal RBL.

The option terminal OPT of the timing controller 120 and the latchdirection change signal terminals LBR/RBL of the data driver 140 may beconnected to resistors R1 to R3 and voltage lines VCC and GND for thepurpose of stable output/transmission of the signal. For example,between the option terminal OPT of the timing controller 120 and thelatch direction change signal terminal LBR/RBL of the data driver 140, aseparate signal line connecting both terminals and a first resistor R1connected to one side or the other side of the signal line may belocated. In addition, the second resistor R2 and the third resistor R3connected to the voltage lines VCC and GND may be located between thefirst resistor R1 and the latch direction change signal terminal LBR/RBLof the data driver 140. The second resistor R2 has one side connected tothe first voltage line VCC and the other side to the signal line, andthe third resistor R3 has one side connected to the second voltage lineGND and the other side connected to the signal line. In addition, atleast one of the resistors R1 to R3 may have an open state (removedstate) depending on whether or not the option terminal OPT of the timingcontroller 120 is used.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 23, the power supply unit 180 may output thefirst scan direction change signal VGH_F or the second scan directionchange signal VGH_R in response to the reverse signal output from theimage supplier 110. To this end, the power supply unit 180 may include areverse signal terminal REVERSE capable of receiving the reverse signalREVERSE and a first scan direction change signal terminal VGHF and asecond scan direction change signal terminal VGHR capable of outputtingthe first scan direction change signal VGH_F and the second scandirection change signal VGH_R.

The first scan direction change signal terminal VGHF and the second scandirection change signal terminal VGHR of the power supply unit 180 maybe connected to the first scan direction control line VGH_FL and thesecond scan direction control line VGH_RL of the shift register circuit131, respectively. Resistors RF and RR capable of stableoutput/transmission of the signal may be located between the first scandirection change signal terminal VGHF and the first scan directioncontrol line VGH_FL, and between the second scan direction change signalterminal VGHR and the second scan direction control line VGH_RL.

As described above, when implementing a video wall (or multi-vision)display device that divides an image into a plurality of images to bedisplayed on a plurality of display panels, the present disclosure hasan effect of reducing the occurrence of an image step between the upperimage and the lower image, thereby improving the display quality. Inaddition, the present disclosure has an effect wherein the framedifference between the upper image and the lower image can be improvedon the basis of the image control method (Z-inversion screen control)that selects an output direction of the scan signal from both directions(Bi-scan) and changes the latch direction of the data voltage.

As described above, according to various embodiments of the presentdisclosure, when implementing a video wall (or multi-vision) displaydevice that divides a single image into a plurality to be displayed on aplurality of display panels, there is an effect that an image stepbetween the upper image and the lower image is prevented, therebyimproving the display quality. In addition, according to embodiments ofthe present disclosure, there is an effect wherein the frame differencebetween the upper image and the lower image can be improved on the basisof the image control method (Z-inversion screen control) that selects anoutput direction of the scan signal from bidirectional scans (Bi-scan)and changes the latch direction of the data voltage.

The embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above withreference to the accompanying drawings, but it will be understood thatthe technical configuration of the present disclosure described abovemay be practiced in other specific forms without changing the technicalspirit or essential features of the present disclosure by those skilledin the art to which the present disclosure pertains. Therefore, theembodiments described above are to be understood in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive. In addition, the scope of theinvention is indicated by the claims below, rather than the detaileddescription. In addition, all modifications or variations derived fromthe meaning and scope of the claims and their equivalent concepts shouldbe construed as being included in the scope of the present invention.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number ofillustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerousother modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled inthe art that will fall within the scope of the principles of thisdisclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications arepossible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subjectcombination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawingsand the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications inthe component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also beapparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display device, comprising: a first displaypanel and a second display panel displaying one image including a firstimage portion and a second image portion in a division manner during aframe, the first image portion displayed on the first display panel andthe second image portion displayed on the second display panel; a firstdata driver and a second data driver, the first data driver supplyingfirst data voltages corresponding to the first image portion to thefirst display panel during the frame, and the second data driversupplying second data voltages corresponding to the second image portionthat is inverted with respect to the first image portion to the seconddisplay panel during the frame; a first scan driver and a second scandriver supplying scan signals to the first display panel and the seconddisplay panel through scan lines during the frame, respectively; and afirst timing controller and a second timing controller controlling thefirst data driver and the second data driver and the first scan driverand the second scan driver during the frame, respectively, wherein thesecond timing controller is configured to invert the second imageportion with respect to the first image portion; wherein the first datadriver latches a first data signal that corresponds to the first imageportion and is output from the first timing controller in a firstdirection during the frame and then converts the first data signal tothe first data voltages to be outputted during the frame, and the seconddata driver latches a second data signal that corresponds to theinverted second image portion and is output from the second timingcontroller in a second direction opposite to the first direction duringthe frame and then converts the second data signal to the second datavoltages to be outputted during the frame, wherein each of the firstscan driver and the second scan driver include: a first scan directioncontrol line receiving a first scan direction change signal at a firstend of the first scan direction control line but not a second scandirection change signal, and the scan lines are connected to the firstscan direction control line; and a second scan direction control linespaced apart from the first scan direction and receiving the second scandirection change signal but not the first scan direction change signalat a first end of the second scan direction control line, wherein asecond end of the first scan direction control line and a second end ofthe second scan direction control line are interconnected to form aU-shape; and wherein one of the first scan direction change signal andthe second scan direction change signal is selectively applied to thefirst scan direction control line or the second scan direction controlline to control a scan direction that the scan lines are outputtedthrough the scan lines.
 2. The display device of claim 1, wherein thefirst scan driver outputs the scan signal in a forward direction duringthe frame, and the second scan driver outputs the scan signal in areverse direction during the frame.
 3. The display device of claim 2,wherein the first scan driver and the second scan driver have scandirections depending on logic states of a first scan direction changesignal and a second scan direction change signal supplied from outside.4. The display device of claim 1, wherein the first data driver and thesecond data driver have latch directions of data signals depending onthe first latch direction change signal and the second latch directionchange signal supplied from the first timing controller and the secondtiming controller.
 5. The display device of claim 1, wherein the firstdisplay panel and the second display panel are disposed verticallyadjacent to each other.
 6. A display device, comprising: at least twodisplay panels including a first display panel and a second displaypanel, the first display panel and the second display panel displayingone image including a first image portion and a second image portion ina division manner during a frame, the first image portion displayed onthe first display panel and the second image portion displayed on thesecond display panel; at least two timing controllers including a firsttiming controller connected to the first display panel but not thesecond display panel, and a second timing controller connected to thesecond display panel but not the first display panel, the first timingcontroller outputting a first data signal that corresponds to the firstimage portion, and the second timing controller inverting the secondimage portion with respect to the first image portion and outputting asecond data signal that corresponds to the inverted second imageportion; at least two data drivers including a first data driverconnected to the first display panel but not the second display panel,and a second data driver connected to the second display panel but notthe first display panel, the first data driver converting the first datasignal that corresponds to the first image portion and output from thefirst timing controller into first data voltages to be output to thefirst display panel during the frame, and the second data driverconverting the second data signal that corresponds to the invertedsecond image portion and is output from the second data driver intosecond data voltages to be output to the second display panel during theframe; and at least two scan drivers including a first scan driverconnected to the first display panel but not the second display panel,and a second scan driver connected to the second display panel but notthe first display panel, the first scan driver applying a first scansignal to the first display panel such that the first data voltages areapplied to the first display panel but not the second display panelduring the frame, and the second scan driver applying a second scansignal to the second display panel such that the second data voltagesare applied to the second display panel but not the first display panelduring the frame, wherein the first scan driver outputs the first scansignal in a forward direction during the frame, and the second scandriver outputs the second scan signal in a reverse direction from theforward direction during the frame, and wherein the first data driverlatches the first data signal in a first direction during the frame andoutputs the latched first data signal in the first direction during theframe, and the second data driver latches the second data signal in asecond direction opposite to the first direction during the frame andoutputs the latched second data signal in the second direction duringthe frame, wherein each of the first scan driver and the second scandriver include: a first scan direction control line receiving a firstscan direction change signal at a first end of the first scan directioncontrol line but not a second scan direction change signal, and the scanlines are connected to the first scan direction control line; and asecond scan direction control line spaced apart from the first scandirection and receiving the second scan direction change signal but notthe first scan direction change signal at a first end of the second scandirection control line, wherein a second end of the first scan directioncontrol line and a second end of the second scan direction control lineare interconnected to form a U-shape; and wherein one of the first scandirection change signal and the second scan direction change signal isselectively applied to the first scan direction control line or thesecond scan direction control line to control a scan direction that thescan lines are outputted through the scan lines.
 7. The display deviceof claim 6, wherein the at least two scan drivers have scan directionsdepending on logic states of first and second scan direction changesignals output from at least two power supply units.
 8. The displaydevice of claim 6, wherein a separate signal line for changing a latchdirection of the data signal is disposed between the at least two datadrivers and the at least two timing controllers.
 9. A driving method ofa display device, the method comprising: outputting a first data signaland a second data signal to display one image in a division manner oneach of a first display panel and a second display panel during a frame,the one image including a first image portion and a second image portionand the second data signal corresponding to the second image portion;converting, during intermediate processing of the image, the first datasignal into first data voltages that correspond to the first imageportion during the frame and converting the second data signal intosecond data voltages that correspond to an orientation of the secondimage that is inverted with respect to an orientation of the first imageportion during the frame and outputting the first data voltages and thesecond data voltages to the first display panel and the second displaypanel, respectively during the frame; and outputting, for a display ofthe image after the intermediate processing, a scan signal to each ofthe first display panel and the second display panel so that the firstdata voltages and the second data voltages are separately applied toeach of the first display panel and the second display panel during theframe, wherein the outputting of the first data voltages and the seconddata voltages during the frame is provided so that the first data signalis latched in a first direction during the frame and then converted intothe first data voltages to be output to the first display panel duringthe frame, and the second data signal is latched in a second directionopposite to the first direction during the frame and then converted tothe second data voltages to be output to the second display panel duringthe frame such that the orientation of the second image portion that isdisplayed on the second display panel during the frame is not invertedwith respect to the orientation of the first image portion that isdisplayed on the first display panel during the frame.
 10. The drivingmethod of claim 9, wherein the outputting of the scan signal is providedso that the scan signal includes a forward scan signal and a reversescan signal, in which the forward scan signal is applied to the firstdisplay panel during the frame, and the reverse scan signal is appliedto the second display panel during the frame.
 11. The driving method ofclaim 9, wherein a first image and a second image to be displayed on aninterface between the at least two display panels are completelydisplayed during the frame.